The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Friday that TikTok will pay $400 million to settle a lawsuit filed in 2024. The legal action alleged violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
Settlement Details
In the lawsuit, the DOJ alleged that TikTok collected data from children without notifying parents or obtaining consent. Furthermore, the platform reportedly failed to delete accounts when requested by parents.
The settlement is structured into two payments:
- $300 million to be paid immediately.
- $100 million to be paid upon the entry of an order vacating a prior consent decree against TikTok’s predecessor, Musical.ly.
Operational Changes and Safeguards
The DOJ noted that TikTok has undergone "significant changes" to its ownership, management, and privacy practices since the lawsuit was initiated. The platform has implemented extensive measures designed to strengthen safeguards for younger users, improve age-related controls, and enhance parental oversight.
In January, a deal to place TikTok under a new joint ownership structure in the US was finalized. TikTok did not immediately reply to a request for comment regarding the settlement.
